Specifications

Section 2 Existing Conditions/Affected Environment
EAA Storage Reservoirs Revised Draft PIR and EIS February 2006
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and Charlotte Harbor have each lost about 30% of their seagrass beds. Since
1987, more than 59,000 acres of seagrasses have been affected by several factors
including degraded water quality, dredging from boat propellers, freshwater
management, severe temperature variability, and others, resulting in a massive
die-off (Haddad and Sargent, 1994). The relationship between seagrass growth
and sustainability and light transparency has been well documented (Duarte,
1991; Kenworthy and Haunert, 1991; Goldsborough and Kemp, 1988; Stevenson,
et al., 1993; Dennison, et al., 1993). Discharges from Lake Okeechobee, with its
associated load of suspended and dissolved constituents such as sediments,
chlorophyll, and dissolved organic matter, may be impacting the riverine and
estuarine seagrass communities and the animals that depend on this habitat.
2.9.3 Everglades Agricultural Area
The diverse South Florida vegetation reflect the influences of the subtropical and
south temperate region of North America, as well as the endemic species that
have evolved in this unique environment. Currently, much of the native South
Florida landscape has been destroyed or substantially reduced by development,
hydrologic change, increased nutrients, and the invasion of exotic plants. South
of Lake Okeechobee, the historic pond apple swamps and sawgrass marshes
have been converted to agriculture. As a result, the only remnants of native
plant communities remain in the EAA and even those are highly disturbed.
The types and distribution of vegetation communities within the EAA are based
on FWC land cover data for 601,654 acres using 1999 and 2000 Landsat satellite
data (Figure 2-2 and Table C-28 in Appendix C). Land cover information was
not available for 19,143 acres of the EAA. Habitat types are divided into five
general groups: aquatic, wetland, upland, disturbed (mostly agricultural), and
urban/extractive. Each of these general habitat types is further separated to
provide more detailed information on the nature of the land cover. In all, 24 land
cover classes are represented within the EAA. Compartment A contains 15 land
cover classes.
2.9.3.1 Aquatic
The aquatic communities within the EAA include both natural and man-made
areas of open water such as canals, ditches, and ponds. Open water areas cover
1.7% of the area. The primary canals include Bolles, Cross, Hillsboro, Miami,
North New River, and West Palm Beach. The FWC land cover data did not
include canals; therefore, no areas of open water habitat are represented in the
data total for Compartment A. Based on USACE and SFWMD estimates,
Compartment A contains 583 acres of aquatic habitat associated with
agricultural canals.